Tuesday, September 11, 2018

Another lawsuit in the works against casino amendment

A Pope County-based group has been formed to oppose the casino gambling amendment and it will file a lawsuit today, the second, seeking to have the amendment removed from the ballot.

Little Rock lawyer Chris Burkstold us of the organization ofCitizens for a Better Pope County to raise money to fight Issue 4, which would allow casinos in Pope and Jefferson counties and solidify the legal standing and expand gambling options at the racinos at Oaklawn and Southland parks. Pope County residents are officers of the group.

Burks said the group will sue today to kill the amendment. Another group sued yesterday, arguing various deficiencies in the ballot title. Plaintiffs include a Hot Springs preacher who's long opposed gambling in the city.

Wrote Burks:

The primary difference in this lawsuit and the one from yesterday is the argument that Issue #4 violates the monopoly ban in the Arkansas Constitution. I won the monopoly lawsuit against the City of Little Rock over only giving Yellow Cab company taxis a license, so it is an argument that I have been successful on before.

Also, my lawsuit is responsive to local voters and not to interest groups with agendas or conflicts. We do not represent the Family Council, and we have never been for the casino amendment.

The argument is that "the Issue #4 ballot title fails to inform voters that Issue #4 itself overturns the constitutional ban on monopolies and perpetuities by giving exclusive, perpetual licenses for casino gambling and alcohol sales over which locals lose their liberty to approve."

More by Max Brantley

Gary Heathcott the long-time ad and PR man who now lives in San Antonio has sued CJRW, the major ad and PR firm, over its severing of a consulting deal with him last year and asks $1.3 million in actual damages plus unspecified punitive damages.

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals has dismissed numerous judicial ethics complaints against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh because the law exempts Supreme Court members, even for acts committed as a judge covered by the law. In short: Bart O'Kavanaugh is above the law.

Brett Rains of 40/29 is tweeting from the Capitol that the Department of Human Services is slowing its push for cuts in reimbursements for home health aides that critics have said could force many people into more expensive nursing home and force companies that provide the services out of business.

Little Rock police have identified two women found dead of gunshot wounds in an SUV parked next to a vacant trailer in a mobile home park at 11500 Chicot Road.

People hospitalized for a respiratory-related illness at UAMS were twice as likely to rent a property that at some point has been issued a mold-related violation notice from Little Rock's Code Enforcement Division when compared to a control population adjusted for demographic differences.

It's the New York Times with the news today. Fired FBI Director James Comey kept notes of his talks with Donald Trump. A memo he wrote in February after a meeting with Trump said the president asked him to shut down the investigation into Michael Flynn, his former national security adviser.

by Max Brantley

May 16, 2017

Slideshows

Arkansas vs Ole Miss at War Memorial stadium in Little Rock, Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018. After leading for much of the game, Arkansas lost 37-33 when Ole Miss scored the game winning Touchdown with less that 2 minutes left.